The Seafront & Engineering Manager introduced the report which provided an update to the work carried out on pursuing a change to the Shoreline Management Plan along the unprotected North Sheppey Coastline, following the motion that was agreed by Members at Full Council in November 2020.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, which included:

·         What support and welfare options were available for residents who would be affected by the management plan?

·         the North Sheppey Coastline affected many vulnerable residents;

·         officers needed to ensure that they communicate with residents;

·         town and parish councils needed to be engaged whilst work was being undertaken as they were often the first responders to sudden coastal erosions; and

·         the council needed to review errors made with previous incidents around communication and learn from those mistakes.

The Seafront & Engineering Manager responded explaining that the purpose of the report was to give officers a focus on engagement work with residents.  Some initial engagement planning had taken place with officers working with a consultant and the Environment Agency. He added that the Shoreline Management Plan Website (SMP Explorer) provided residents with the most up-to-date information on predicted coastal erosion and if residents had any concerns they could review the information on that website. Supporting residents on understanding the data on the SMP Explorer was part of the engagement plan.

The Head of Environment and Leisure said that the cliff collapse at Eastchurch in 2020 was a key learning incident and since then, better links had been made with parish councils as part of the emergency plan.

Councillor Dolley Wooster proposed the recommendation as set out in the report and this was seconded by Councillor Carole Jackson, on being put to the vote it was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)   That the contents of the report following the previous motion to change the Shoreline Management Plan Policy for Eastchurch be noted and the work that had been done be acknowledged and that officers focussed on engaging and supporting the affected residents.